In Wutan City, the economic clash between the two great clans finally concluded with the Xiao Clan emerging victorious. The Jia Lie Clan suffered defeat, its influence rapidly shrinking, making it difficult to ever recover its former glory.
The story of the two great clans' competition spread throughout Wutan City, but gradually faded into the past. Everyone's attention was now focused on a new, important event: the enrollment period for Jia Nan Academy.
As one of the most renowned advanced academies on the Dou Qi Continent, Jia Nan Academy was practically the dream of all young people. As long as one could enter the academy, their future prospects would almost certainly be smooth sailing. Not only could they return home in glory, but they would also become sought-after individuals by various other powers.
Jia Nan Academy was located near the intersection of the Jia Ma Empire and two other great empires. In this location, Jia Nan Academy had virtually transformed into a small nation. Normally, for a place surrounded by three great empires to maintain a neutral stance, the three great empires would not stand idly by. This was because they could not guarantee that this power would not be leveraged by their rivals, thus posing a threat to their imperial defenses.
Of course, this only applied to weaker powers that were surrounded. For a power whose strength was sufficient to contend with the three great empires, the three great empires would instead quietly abandon all such notions. Therefore, they had no choice but to allow Jia Nan Academy to occupy the imperial vicinity like a colossal dragon, with no one daring to provoke it.
Through many years of development, Jia Nan Academy had now become a famous advanced academy on the Dou Qi Continent. Furthermore, its covert connections with the royal families of the three great empires further enhanced the academy's reputation in the hearts of the people within those empires.
The fact that the three great empires, with their "water and fire incompatible" relationship, had been able to maintain peace for nearly a century was largely due to Jia Nan Academy's subtle restraint.
With all these favorable factors, Jia Nan Academy's prestige grew even stronger within the three great empires. Every year, Jia Nan Academy dispatched a large number of instructors to recruit exceptionally talented cultivation disciples within the three great empires.
Regarding this action by Jia Nan Academy, the royal families of the three great empires unanimously agreed without prior consultation. After all, an academy was not a sect, and academies did not impose overly strict restrictions. After graduation, the majority of students chose to return to their respective nations. For such an opportunity to indirectly enhance their national strength, the royal families of the three great empires, unless they were utterly foolish, would naturally not refuse.
In the coming days, Jia Nan Academy's enrollment instructors would arrive in Wutan City. Therefore, all the attention in Wutan City, which had previously been focused on the clash between the two great clans, now shifted to the Jia Nan Academy enrollment event. It was precisely this development that caused Xiao Yan, who had recently been under constant scrutiny, to quietly let out a sigh.
Jia Nan Academy's enrollment primarily focused on cultivation talent. Those with status and position but insufficient talent would always find it difficult to enter. Of course, this was not absolute. If you had a powerful force backing you, and if you paid a substantial tuition fee as a contribution to the academy, Jia Nan Academy would not overlook you and would still admit you.
Because Jia Nan Academy's recruitment did not consider social status, all the young teenagers in Wu Tan City, whether they were beggars or petty thieves, were now filled with anticipation for the arrival of the recruitment instructors. As long as they could fortunately pass the test, they would be able to escape their former lowly professions and become respected Dou Practitioners.
Under this stimulating atmosphere, the air in Wu Tan City was even livelier than during festivals. Every day when the city gates opened, many pairs of eyes would gaze intently.
Compared to others who were filled with anticipation, Xiao Yan was extremely busy at the moment. Because he was about to embark on a long journey, he had been almost desperately refining healing medicines during this period. Seeing Xiao Yan's desperate efforts, Yao Lao felt a pang of heartache and reluctantly helped him. With the help of Yao Lao, whose alchemist level was unknown, a continuous stream of healing medicine products was delivered to the Xiao family's warehouse. Based on the current quantity, as long as the Xiao family managed their sales properly, it would be enough for them to consume for a year without depletion. Looking at this pile of healing medicines, the enormous profits generated would likely make many people's eyes turn red with envy.
Although the high-intensity alchemy made Xiao Yan extremely exhausted, it also made him increasingly proficient in controlling the Dou Qi within his body. His control over the flame's temperature also became more and more skilled. This progress earned him constant praise from Yao Lao. Currently, Xiao Yan's success rate in refining Blood Coagulation Powder had almost reached sixty percent. Such a success rate could only be achieved by a Two-Star Alchemist with rich experience.
Compared to the progress in alchemy, Xiao Yan's own strength also slowly increased with the aid of some spiritual liquids formulated by Yao Lao. After the last batch of healing medicine was refined, during a cultivation session, the Dou Qi in Xiao Yan's body condensed, almost like rivers flowing into a sea, converging in one place. Then, with unstoppable momentum, he advanced to the Four-Star Dou Practitioner level. You are reading this novel at Quan Ben - www.quanben.
Xiao Yan was filled with joy at this unexpected gain. It seemed that high-intensity alchemy also had a good blessing effect on increasing one's strength.
Of course, although alchemy had some amplifying effects, it was ultimately too draining on mental energy. After the last batch of medicinal ingredients was refined, Yao Lao stopped him. Seeing Yao Lao's stern expression and his concern for him, Xiao Yan no longer insisted. Thus, when he returned to his room for a nap, life once again became leisurely.
Slowly walking through the family compound, Xiao Yan felt a bit helpless seeing the crowded training grounds.
In the middle of the grounds, many young clan members were diligently cultivating, sweating profusely. These people were all taking advantage of the last few days to cultivate, hoping to qualify for Jia Nan Academy.
Standing outside the training ground, Xiao Yan reluctantly glanced inside, then turned and left, bored. He felt no sympathy for these people who usually neglected their cultivation and were now scrambling at the last minute. Even when his cultivation talent recovered, he never slacked off in his training. Their talent might not be high, but they liked to rely on their family's influence to flirt and cause trouble, actions that left Xiao Yan with no good impression of them.
The admission requirements for Jia Nan Academy were not low; one had to reach eight-stage Dou Qi before the age of eighteen. This strict condition shattered many people's dreams. Of course, in Xiao Yan's estimation, among those currently in the training ground, no more than two would meet the admission criteria.
With his hands clasped behind his head, Xiao Yan dismissed those people from his mind. He didn't care how many of them ultimately got in. Shaking his head, Xiao Yan turned into a small path and entered the back garden, where he saw a familiar figure standing amidst a beautiful flower garden, looking exceptionally lovely.
Narrowing his eyes at the perfect curve of that figure's back, a gentle expression appeared on Xiao Yan's face. He chuckled softly and slowly approached the young woman in green who stood lost in thought.
"Brother Xiao Yan, are you... are you leaving soon?" Before he even got close to the young woman, a sorrowful voice reached Xiao Yan's ears.
His steps halted. Xiao Yan nodded helplessly, then slowly walked forward until he stood beside Xun Er. He turned to see her delicate, small face looking a little downcast. Smiling, he reached out and gently stroked Xun Er's head, feeling a pleasant coolness that made him feel somewhat enchanted.
"You're not entering Jia Nan Academy?" Allowing Xiao Yan to intimately stroke her head—no other man besides Xiao Yan had ever touched her—Xun Er asked softly.
"Yes," Xiao Yan nodded, smiling faintly. "I have something I must do."
"Is it because of Nalan Yanran?" A hint of coldness flashed in Xun Er's bright eyes as she bit her red lips and whispered.
The hand stroking Xun Er's head paused slightly. Xiao Yan smiled calmly and said, "So many people witnessed that agreement back then. How could I break my promise? If I did, even you would look down on me."
Xun Er's delicate brows furrowed, and she let out a soft sigh, murmuring so quietly that only she could hear, "If I had known, I shouldn't have let her return alive then."
"En, don't worry. After I finish this matter, I'll come to Jia Nan Academy to find you. En... at most a year and a half, no, one year..." Seeing the troubled expression on Xun Er's small face, Xiao Yan quickly smiled and corrected himself.
"Brother Xiao Yan, actually... if you come with Xun Er, Xun Er also has a way to help you defeat Nalan Yanran during the agreed-upon duel." Biting her small mouth and pondering for a long time, Xun Er suddenly said hesitantly.
Xiao Yan gave a wry laugh and shook his head, sighing with a hint of self-mockery. "Girl, sometimes what you say truly makes me feel a bit ashamed."
"I know Brother Xiao Yan won't think I'm a demoness," Xun Er said with a sweet smile.
Chuckling softly, Xiao Yan gently shook his head, then looked up at the sky and let out a sigh, smiling as he said, "Don't worry, I have confidence. One year from now, at the Yun Lan Sect, I will fight Nalan Yanran!"
Seeing Xiao Yan's sudden surge of heroic spirit, Xun'er helplessly shook her head. Just as she was about to speak again to dissuade him, Xiao Yan suddenly turned around, extended both arms, and at that very moment, fiercely pulled her small waist into a tight embrace.
A gentle breeze swept through the garden, the green willows swaying lightly. The young man held the young woman tightly, their two bodies perfectly intertwined, indistinguishable from each other.
Caught off guard by Xiao Yan's sudden embrace, Xun'er's small face flushed crimson. She weakly resisted, then shyly stopped, a captivating blush spreading across her face.
"Xun'er, one year from now, I will come to Jia Nan Academy to find you. Wait for me."
Burying her head in the young man's chest, the young woman finally nodded, not knowing what else to do.